Dana McAtee
Founder
Dana McAtee is a passionate and dedicated pole dancer and aerialist . Her love affair with pole dance began in 2004 when she was first introduced to the art form. From that moment on, she was hooked, and in 2006 she started teaching pole dance herself. Her commitment to her craft has led her to pursue additional training in flexibility, Pilates, and aerial.
Over the years, Dana has had the opportunity to train with many renowned pole dance teachers, honing her skills and developing her own unique style. She remains humble and always considers herself a student of the art form. She believes that there is always something new to learn, and she continues to push herself to grow and improve her skillsets.
Dana's passion for pole dance and aerial extends beyond her own personal practice. She is committed to sharing her knowledge and expertise with others, and she has become a respected instructor and mentor in the pole and aerial community. Her teaching style is focused on empowering her students to embrace their bodies and push past their limits to achieve their goals.
Today, Dana continues to inspire and motivate others with her passion and dedication to her craft.
Diane Pak
As a passionate pole dancer and lifelong learner, I am thrilled to share my knowledge and love for the art form as a pole dance instructor. With ten years of personal experience as a dedicated student, I have cultivated a deep understanding of the physical, artistic, and emotional aspects of pole dancing.
In my teaching approach, I prioritize creating a supportive and inclusive environment that encourages my students to embrace their individuality and enjoy the process of learning. My goal is to foster a safe space where students can explore their own unique strengths, overcome challenges, and discover the transformative power of pole dance.
Drawing from my own experiences as a student, I understand the importance of tailoring lessons to meet the needs and goals of each individual. I am dedicated to providing personalized guidance and constructive feedback to help you progress and achieve your aspirations.
I believe that pole dancing is not just a physical activity but also a means of self-expression, empowerment, and building confidence. Through my classes, I strive to impart not only technical skills but also a deeper appreciation for the artistry and storytelling potential of pole dance.
Join me on this incredible journey as we explore the dynamic world of pole dancing together. Let’s unleash your potential, celebrate your achievements, and inspire each other to reach new heights in both skill and self-discovery.
Helen Day
Helen began her aerial training at the Hanger Arts in London, before joining Zu Aerial Dance in Brighton as a student, and later as a performer and collaborator. She has performed at corporate events, private parties and cabarets all over London, the UK and Europe, with Zu Aerial Dance and also with her own solo work.
She joined Cirque du Soleil for the creation of 'Toruk', based on James Cameron's 'Avatar', in 2015, as a puppeteer (and later as puppetry artist/coach). After a few months she also began training for the aerial rope act in the show, and happily swung from the 'vines' as a na'vi, touring the world with the show until 2019.
She now lives in West Hollywood, and when she is not in the air she can be found acting on screen, working as a performance capture artist for the video game industry, puppeteering, and having adventures with her rescue pitbull Queenie.
Iris Shih
Iris is a dedicated and passionate pole artist with a deep love for the dance form. Her journey began in 2008 when she first discovered pole dance and was instantly captivated by its blend of strength, grace, and self-expression. In 2015, she began teaching pole, driven by her desire to inspire and empower others through movement. Iris believes in the transformative power of pole dance, not only as a physical activity but as a means of self-expression and empowerment. Her teaching style emphasizes technique, balance, and creativity, encouraging students to safely explore their unique strengths and push beyond their limits. She has devoted herself to mastering her craft and helping others achieve their own pole dance goals.
A lifelong student constantly seeking to expand her skills and knowledge, Iris’s commitment to continuous learning has led her to explore complementary apparatuses such as aerial silks, lyra/hoop, and cube. Additionally, Iris is a certified yoga instructor who specializes in restorative yoga, bringing a holistic approach and supportive demeanor to her classes.
Kennedy Kabasares
Kennedy Kabasares is an aerialist and actor. He attended high school at the San Francisco School of the Arts where he studied theater, and was also taught circus arts with Judi Finelli of the Pickle Family Circus. Kennedy was invited to compete in the 2011 Aerial Acrobatic Arts Festival in Denver, where he took first place for static trapeze.
His current artistic endeavor, PULL project, is a narrative theater/circus hybrid with performance artist traci kato-kiriyama, which has been presented in the US and Canada.
Kevin Holland
Kevin Holland is an aerialist, dancer, and choreographer specializing in artistic act creation. He has taught aerial workshops and created acts for students of all ages for over a decade.
In 2022, he graduated with his BFA in dance from Cal State Long Beach. Kevin has performed his aerial chains number on the national US tour for Vampire Circus, Santa Circus in Miami, FL and for Terry Beeman’s Mental Head Circus. He also has danced for DIAVOLO: Architecture in Motion – TRUST show throughout Los Angeles county, and his own choreography has been commissioned by dance companies throughout California.
Melissa Coindreau
Melissa performed as a principal dancer with the San Antonio Met Ballet for 5 yrs. A an international touring artist her professional credits include Grease, Cabaret, The Broadway Musical Swing, and she has had the pleasure of performing with such greats as the Cab Calloway Orchestra, Twyla Tharp, Terry Beeman's Mental Head Circus, and Michael Buble.
She holds US titles in Swing Dance and , is a certified yoga and Pilates instructor. Consumed with the idea of taking dance into the air she found her way to aerial arts. Melissa is an advanced pole technician with competitive experience. She has also coached championship pole artists, produced, costumed, and choreographed aerial concerts, and loves any opportunity for a creative challenge. With over 20 years of professional experience, she is trained in aerial hoop, silks, hammock, and enjoys blending the world of dance and aerial together.
She is proud to share her love of dance and aerial innovation with her students.
Melissa Hellewell
Melissa was immediately hooked when she first tried aerial silks in early 2011. One week later she tried lyra, and then six months later, she began training on the flying trapeze (and hasn't stopped since!).
As an instructor she loves to encourage students to notice the progress they are making no matter how big or small. Melissa feels the same sense of accomplishment she felt as a beginner each time works with a new student.
Mina Mechanic
Mina Mechanic started her aerial journey in 2008. She has competed and won national and international pole dance competitions. She has also traveled the world performing and teaching workshops.
Her resume includes dancing in music videos for Usher, Enrique Iglesias, and Diplo as well as on stage with Snoop Dog. Mina is professionally trained and certified to teach silks, hammock, pole, lyra, and flexibility classes.
Samuel Petre
Samuel Petre has a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Performance from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Now, he is a Los Angeles based Acrobatics and Aerial Arts Performer, Teacher and Choreographer, Commercial Actor, and Dancer. His experience of work includes a variety of local North Carolina, San Francisco, Las Vegas and Los Angeles based theatrical and circus cabarets, theme parks and commercial gigs.